Rubke sailed through her confirmation hearing at City Hall last week, and her nomination is scheduled for consideration by the full board June 5. If approved, she would replace Commissioner Bruce Oka, whom the mayor declined to reappoint.

An attorney who has been active in disability rights, Rubke uses a wheelchair. She grew up in Moreno Valley (Riverside County) in Southern California, where cars rule the road. "As a person in a wheelchair, I am truly dependent on public transit and welcome the chance to improve it," she said.

Rubke, who lives near AT&T Park and works downtown, is a regular rider on Muni's N-Judah and T-Third light-rail lines.

She will come to the seven-member transportation board with no professional expertise in transportation issues, and the area hasn't been the focus of her community involvement, either. But she said she has been active in the community and has a commitment to improving the city's transportation network.

"MTA touches the lives of every single person living in and visiting San Francisco, and it is critical that all these people can safely and reliably get around town, whether they're in a wheelchair, elderly, low-income or from an isolated neighborhood," she said.

Supervisor David Campos, who serves on the Rules Committee, said she's a good pick to help govern the transportation agency, which oversees Muni, bike and pedestrian programs, taxis and parking.

"I recognize this is an individual who doesn't necessarily have professional expertise in the area of transportation, but the reality is that we want someone who has firsthand experience of what it means to be a rider of public transportation," Campos said. He also said Rubke is a quick study who will bring an outsider's fresh perspective to the volunteer job.

Lee-sanity?: Got a call from Chinatown power broker Rose Pak the other day. She had an issue with us quipping that it would be ironic if 5-foot-5-inch Mayor Ed Lee succeeded in luring the Golden State Warriors basketball team to San Francisco.

She wanted us to know that her longtime friend and political ally is actually a very good athlete, excelling in basketball, golf and tennis.

"Even though he's short and round, he's a natural athlete," she said. "If he had a few more inches, he wouldn't be a politician. He'd be a basketball player. You would have called it Lee-sanity."

She recalled asking the late lawyer Bob McCarthyto play a round of golf with Lee, which was only the second golf game ever for the latter. Pak said McCarthy was angry after the game that Lee had shown up in ratty shoes, wearing a Cesar Chavez T-shirt and carrying a golf bag that cost less than what McCarthy spent on one club. And that Lee hit an eagle anyway.

"I thought he hit a bird, a protected species!" Pak recalled. "I said, 'I'm so sorry! I don't think he meant to kill a bird. Is your membership in jeopardy?' "

- Heather Knight

This week's news

Tuesday: The Board of Supervisors will consider extending the city's film rebate program through 2014.

Friday: Get ready for the detours. The Church and Duboce track and street improvement project begins at 7 p.m. and will continue until June 4. The N-Judah will be shut down, the J-Church will be partially closed, and the 22-Fillmore, 37-Corbett, 43-Masonic and N-Owl will be rerouted.